Project Background and Sign-Up

Very simply put, DNA is the material inside the nucleus of cells that carry genetic information. We all have 23 pairs of chromosones. The 23 rd pair consists of an X & a Y chromosone in males and 2 X’s in a female. The Y-chromosone is passed from father to son almost unchanged from generation to generation. For this reason, the Y-chromosone test is perfect for a surname study such as ours, but it unfortunately means that this project is for MALES ONLY who carry the surname RATTRAY and spelling variants, and who believe that their surname has been passed to them in the male, and NOT via the female, line.

What is a DNA test? In the early days it was a blood test. Now a kit is posted to one’s home, one takes a swab from the inside of the cheek, seals the sample and posts it back to the company. A few weeks later you are sent the result.

Why is DNA testing important to a family like ours and of what use will it be to us?

• To prove or disprove that we all share a common ancestor
• To prove or disprove that variant spellings of our surname, such as Ratteray, Ratterree & Rattrie, are linked
• In the event that ancestors adopted the surname of the leader of the community or in honour of the person they worked for, we can establish the various groups who do share a common ancestor. The advantage here is that one or two members of the group might be further advanced in their research than you and can therefore indicate in which geographical area you should continue your search
• To indicate where mistakes might have been made in family trees drawn up by family oral tradition or conventional genealogical research

The surname Rattray is well documented for 900 years in Perthshire but so many of us have traced our own line back to a certain point and can get no further. Here is a chance to use science to help us tear down those brick walls. The Clan Rattray Society has selected for this project the very reputable company, Family Tree DNA (FTDNA), based in Houston, Texas and affiliated to the University of Arizona. This company was started by Bennett Greenspan when his own family research came to a standstill, so is very orientated towards the needs of genealogy. They have completed 80% - 85% of all known surname projects and also maintain the project for Scottish Clans. Our results will be able to be compared to these Clans and families - providing each participant gives permission to do so, as routinely the results are placed in their “secure, private and confidential database”. Family Tree DNA is also collaborating with National Geographic on the Genographic Project which is an “effort to map how humankind populated the earth”.

As we had previously done a small project with 3 participants using a 10 marker test, and have first hand experience that using so few markers does not give a usable result, we have decided that the tests should be for 37 or 67 markers. Family Tree DNA preserve the DNA for 25 years thereby ensuring that you may take advantage of future advances in science without having to retake a test. The result we get is not going to be definitive. For example, we are not going to be told that John born 1950 is definitely descended from Thomas born about 1500, but rather that John born 1950 in Canada is probably descended 20 generations ago from the same person as William born 1948 in Scotland. The following table is Family Tree DNA’s assessment of the accuracy of results.

It goes without saying that a DNA test does not replace conventional research using original documents, but using the two together should prove very worthwhile and exciting.

DNA companies state up front that there is a 2% - 5% rate per generation of unexpected paternity found in tests. May I gently remind you that there is the possibility that you may find illegitimacy, adoption or the assumption of the Rattray surname in your ancestry.

I am the Group Administrator for the project – the liaison between participants and Family Tree DNA. If you have any queries you can contact me – Dawn Raimondo – at dnaproject@clanrattray.org

If you would like to be part of the project, these are the steps to follow:-

1. Go onto the internet and the homepage of the Clan Rattray Society website at www.clanrattray.org Scroll down a little to the DNA banner and click on HERE after “To participate in the Clan Rattray DNA Project”. This takes you to the website of Family Tree DNA.
2. Fill out the Order Form. Under “TYPE OF TEST” choose Y-DNA 37 or preferably, Y-DNA 67. The special group rate for Y-DNA 37 is $189 and for Y-DNA 67, $269.
3. Click on “CONTINUE” for direct payment to Family Tree DNA.
4. Family Tree DNA posts the Test kit with instructions to you the following day.
5. With each order a Release form for comparing exact or very tight matches is provided for your signature.
6. After taking the test, post it directly to Family Tree DNA in the envelope provided.
7. Results will take about 6 – 8 weeks.
8. An email will be sent to you when the results are returned from the laboratory.
9. An email will be sent to you when ever future results that match yours are returned.
10. A hard copy Certificate is mailed to each member with a hard copy report.
11. A personal page with password protection is created for each member. This is where DNA matches are posted.
12. The Group Administrator also receives all test results.
13. The Group Administrator will receive the Phylogenetic Tree (a graphic pictorial of how members of the family fit together) when at least 25 results have been received, and he/she will pass it on to all participants.
14. There is no charge for interpretation or any further questions you may have for Family Tree DNA after you receive your results.

Do visit Family Tree DNA on www.familytreedna.com Their website is very comprehensive and any question you may have, e.g.:- What is DNA? What does a DNA kit look like and how does it work? How much will it cost? How will my privacy be ensured? What will I get by participating in this project?, will be answered there.

We look forward to hearing from you.

DNA Test Results

The Clan Society’s DNA project was started in November 2004 and to date - July 2006, we have had 13 participants.

Each participant holds the surname, RATTRAY or a variant, and has taken the Y-chromosone test. Seven men have taken the 37 marker test and six have upgraded to the 67 marker test. In order to present a consistent picture of the results the interpretation below describes matches on the 37 marker test:-

A 33/37 match with RULZION OF SCOTLAND and NORMAN OF CANADA

The 33/37 match interprets as a 93.77% relationship within 500 years. One generation is calculated as 25 years, hence 500 years usually represents 20 generations.

A 33/37 match with RULZION OF SCOTLAND and TERRY OF CANADA

A 33/37 match with RULZION OF SCOTLAND and NORMAN OF CANADA

A 33/37 match with KEITH OF CANADA and MARK OF NEW ZEALAND

A 33/37 match with MAURICE OF THE UNITED STATES and ALEXANDER OF THE UNITED STATES

A 34/37 match with HENRY OF SOUTH AFRICA and ALEXANDER OF THE UNITED STATES

A 35/37 match with KEITH OF CANADA and DAVID OF CANADA

The 35/37 match interprets as a 96.75% relationship within 400 years. Thus, the connection should be about 16 generations ago.

A 35/37 match with DAVID OF THE UNITED STATES and JACK OF THE UNITED STATES

A 36/37 match with HENRY OF SOUTH AFRICA and MAURICE OF THE UNITED STATES .

The 36/37 match interprets as a 96.84% relationship within 300 years. In this particular case, there is definitely no relationship in the past 5 generations, hence we can concentrate our conventional genealogical research in a very definite time period - from 1805 back to about 1700.

In addition, Henry and Maurice each have a 33/37 match with another surname in the Family Tree DNA database.

These results have far exceeded our expectations, especially considering the small number of participants and the fact that there was no known relationship to each other before the tests were taken. To summarise, of 13 participants, we now know that in fairly recent history, Henry, Maurice & Alexander are descended from the same ancestor, Rulzion, Terry & Norman from another common ancestor, Keith, David of Canada & Mark from another, Jack & David of the United States from another and the remaining three persons are as yet not grouped. The above results have already made an enormous difference to the focus of the research for the families concerned. The possibilities are therefore very great that with more participants we will make more exciting connections and be able to group families more accurately.